"God gave us the miracle of congregation the same way he gave us the miracle of Jesus, by the Descent of the Dove.  It was a miracle that didn't look like a miracle, a miracle in the form of the powerless, the vulnerable, the unimportant -- not so very different from any random congregation we might look up in the yellow pages of our telephone directories" (25-26).
 
Eugene Peterson, Practice Resurrection:  A Conversation on Growing Up in Christ
 

How about this held in tension with Mr. Peterson's thoughts:

 

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.  For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate."  Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?  For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.  Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.  For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength. Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth.  But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.  He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are,  so that no one may boast before him.  It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.  Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."  When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God.  For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.  I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling.  My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power.

- 1 Corinthians 1:18-2:5 (New International Version)

Been considering the church, the Christian faith, and the rise in 'power'.  From the beginning, Christians were the outcasts -- a small group of radicals in a crazy, pluralistic, messed up world.  These people were the ones practicing faith under threat of death; proclaiming a message that seemed unbelievable; and making a DIFFERENCE in the world.  They were known for their love, hospitality, generousity, and commitment.  They were also the 'least' -- the message of Christ crucified and resurrected attracted the lowly, humble, the

'working class', the uneducated...and the gospel flourished, rushed out into the world, and has been making waves ever since!  Pretty cool.  I wonder -- what will it be like when the Christian church is again the underdog -- the ones on the 'fringe' of society, meeting and worshipping maybe not under the threat of death but rather scorn?  What might it be like if once again we are known to the folks in society rushing to aid those in need, recognized for our love of one another, for our generousity, for our commitment...

 

Great things to ponder.  Struck again at the faith of a child last night; over dinner, we are talking about Jesus and following Him.  Our oldest drops this bomb - "Sometimes, I think about what it would be like to not follow Jesus, and it scares me..."  Me too.

 

Happy Wednesday, friends!